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In an emotional podcast appearance, Michelle Williams remembered her late ex-partner Heath Ledger-the father of her daughter Matilda.
When talking to Dax Shepard in the “Armchair Expert” podcast on May 19, the topic quickly came up with Ledger, who died in 2008 at the age of 28. Williams and Ledger met in 2004 on the set of “Brokeback Mountain”. A year later, daughter Matilda was born, today she is 19 years old.
“An incredible sensitivity”
Dax Shepard thought of his own encounters with Ledger in a phase in which the actor tried to become sober: “I feel committed to saying that I knew him a little when he got sober, and I don’t think I ever took someone to heart so quickly,” said Shepard in the Podcastepisode.
And further: “That was one of the most special people I’ve ever met. I could feel the world’s burden on his shoulders – in a special way that broke my heart. I was [nach seinem Tod] Very, very sad, and I just found him so special. “
Michelle Williams showed himself audibly moved and replied: “He was so special, so special – thank God there is Matilda.” The moderator further described the “The Dark Knight” star as “this heart that simply expires everywhere”, whereupon Williams reacted: “Yes, an incredible sensitivity.”
“You just go with the flow”
In retrospect about this early time, Michelle Williams said: “We had a baby. But I think the good thing about being young is maybe that you don’t have so much life experience to be able to classify everything. You just go with the flow.” Today the 44-year-old lives with director Thomas Kail (“Hamilton”, 2020) with whom she has three other children.
In an interview, the “Blue Valentine” actress also reflected on how she tried to combine family and career. “Children are such great people in life,” said Williams. “They force you to be your best in front of you. You cannot give up your life, work and your own wishes, you have to reconcile them and find out which master you want to serve.”
Michelle Williams’ daughter Matilda clearly resembles her father Heath Ledger, as the latest pictures show:
Balance instead of perfection: life between career and family
The “Brokeback Mountain” actress does not believe that you can bring full performance at the same time in all areas of life-and rather see the real challenge in balance: “You cannot be equally good at all at all. You have to give it and take it-and then fill up with other areas.”
Williams described her life as a constant balancing act between work and family: “If you are a long phase at home, you have to devote yourself to what you have neglected and bring light back there. So it is a constant back and forth – but you have to make sure that nothing is too long.”
A tragic legacy: Heath Ledger’s last big appearance
At the age of 28, Heath Ledger died of an accidental overdose of prescription medication. His portrayal of the Joker in Christopher Nolan “The Dark Knight” (2008) posthumously brought him numerous awards, including the Golden Globe and the Oscar as the best supporting actor.
There is currently the documentary “I am Heath Ledger” from 2017 to watch on Pluto TV for free.